After years of transforming bodies in the Northeast, celebrity personal trainer and author Fredrick Hahn is ready to scale his signature strength training method. His concept, SlowBurn, trades high-impact workouts and packed gym floors for a mindful, results-driven approach—just 30 minutes a week, one-on-one, no sweat required. Now, as strength training surges in popularity, Hahn is launching a franchising network to bring his high-efficiency fitness model to a broader audience – one that is seeking smarter strength training.
Ideal for fitness enthusiasts of all ages, Hahn developed the SlowBurn method as a certified trainer at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Sports Medicine Center. His Manhattan studio has been open for more than 20 years, while his Montclair, New Jersey location celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
As Hahn sees it, consumer behavior is shifting in favor of strength training more than ever, partly driven by frustration over injuries from some popular “functional” exercises in place of safer, more efficient workouts.
“A lot of press has indicated that strength training is not just for building strength but also has a primary positive effect on cardiovascular capacity, functionality and longevity,” Hahn says. “People are also getting bored with the loud big-box gym models and are favoring smaller, intimate, more boutique-style studios. They like a routine that is set, expected and, of course, that works.”
That’s where SlowBurn comes in, offering a quiet, focused alternative based on control.
“The ‘Tai Chi-like’ routine is a full-body workout done very slowly,” Hahn explains. “Each exercise takes about 60-90 seconds to complete—until your muscles reach the deepest fatigue possible. It’s an exhilarating experience. SlowBurn builds you up without beating you up!”
SlowBurn offers a membership-free experience, where clients purchase a series of one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer—either once a week for 30 minutes or twice a week for 15 minutes each.
“Attendance is high at SlowBurn because we deliver results, and they are tracked with the InBody 570 Scan to assess body composition, which creates a weight lifting plan that can be tracked for progress at each visit,” Hahn says. “So what we do is look closely at the clients that are coming regularly and when we discover that the client has not been in the studio for 2+ weeks, we email them and ask them how they are doing, inviting them back in to continue developing themselves so as not to lose what they’ve worked so hard to gain!”
SlowBurn refers to it as the “Ra-Ra! Approach,” Hahn adds—defining it as Retention and Attention.
“Clients also appreciate that they do not sweat during their workouts because of the Tai Chi-like slow movements, plus we keep fans on them during the workouts and control the temperature in the studio,” he says. “You can show up in your professional attire for work before your commute and not have to shower after a SlowBurn workout.”
While many studio owners grapple with whether to invest in client retention or acquisition, Hahn says that in an ideal world, it’s best to do both—but retaining the clients you’ve nurtured by keeping them happy and cared for is most important.
“For example, I recently spent $8K on a fancy massage chair that the clients absolutely love,” Hahn says. “I do not charge for its usage. Clients can use it when they wish. A good book to read on the subject is “The Funnel” by Seth Godin.”
Perks like the massage chair reflect Hahn’s broader strategy: creating an experience that goes beyond the workout to deepen loyalty and stand out.
“Strength training has never been more popular and supported by scientific research than now,” Hahn says. “It is now known to be the single most important exercise modality anyone can engage in. Boutique personalized programs are also becoming more and more popular, and fitness franchises are second only to the food industry!”
Prospective SlowBurn franchisees can expect an initial investment beginning at $99,570 to build out and begin operating a SlowBurn Personal Training studio.
